A simplified method of harvesting and dilating the radial artery achieves acceptable clinical outcomes

Background: The recent successful revival of the radial artery as a coronar y-bypass conduit has been attributed to a minimally traumatic harvesting te chnique without diathermy, combined with long-term oral calcium antagonist therapy. We describe a simplified technique of harvesting the radial artery , which reduces procurement time and maintains conduit relaxation. Methods: Radial arteries were harvested using diathermy and topical glycery l trinitrate-verapamil dilator solution. Postoperatively, intravenous glyce ryl trinitrate, but no calcium antagonist was used. The clinical results in the first 100 consecutive patients receiving radial artery grafts (RA grou p), procured using this technique, were compared with a group of 100 patien ts receiving saphenous vein conduits (SV group) immediately prior to the in troduction of the radial artery at our institution. Results: There were no demographic differences between the two groups, othe r than the SV group being slightly older. There was one intraoperative deat h in each group. There was no difference in the rate of peri-operative myoc ardial infarction or length of stay in the intensive care unit. At a median follow-up time of 16 months for the RA group, and 25 months for the SV gro up, the survival rates were 97 and 94%, respectively. All survivors were in the New York Heart Association class I. In the SV group, two postoperative angioplasties were performed. Conclusions: These early results suggest that this method of procuring the radial artery using diathermy, glyceryl trinitrate and no postoperative cal cium antagonists, is rapid, safe and effective. The continued use of this t echnique is justified, while awaiting the results of long-term angiographic studies.